December 6th is St. Nicholas Day. The tradition of Santa Claus began with the practice of giving gifts in St. Nicholas's honor on the eve of his feast day (the night of Dec. 5th). There were many different forms of traditions and legends associated with St. Nicholas that led to his morph into the American Santa Claus.
It is interesting to look at the history of St. Nicholas as this Christmas season begins, because the journey of his persona and memory from the historical Nicholas to Jolly Ol' St. Nick to Santa Claus mirrors the changing face of Christmas itself. St. Nicholas was focused on the poor, while "Santa Claus" most benefits the rich. St. Nicholas was a staunch defender of the deity of Jesus Christ and went to prison under Roman persecution and faced down strong pressure from a group of heretics led by Arius once Christianity was legal in the Empire--we congratulate ourselves for answering someone saying "Happy Holidays" with "Merry Christmas."
The Real Saint Nicholas (a historian's account from Christianity Today)
St. Nicholas Center (lots of great stories and resources--many for children)
Families often wonder what to do with "Santa Claus" once the children are old enough to stop believing. It may be worthwhile to take a look at the real "St. Nick" and teach about both his generous spirit and his unwavering commitment to Jesus.
First Baptist Church is a loving community of believers in Jesus Christ. Our history goes back for about a century of serving Jesus in our community. We have exciting ministries for people of all ages, including youth and children. You can keep up with us here for sermons, podcasts, blogs, and events.
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